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There was a time when she’d been known as a wild party girl, but that was years ago. Back then, she was trying to figure out who she was and for whatever reason she thought she’d find the answer in a string of one-night stands. It didn’t matter if they were male or female. She believed there was someone out there for her and she’d been determined to find them.

Thank goodness she’d figured out the error in her thinking and hadn’t suffered terrible consequences for her reckless ways. After a specific period of foolhardy behavior she’d vowed not to let sex make a decision for her ever again.

There had been a couple of relationships since her awakening that hadn’t worked out. They were both amicable splits. Since then she’d gone on a few dates here and there, but no one interested her enough for a second date.

Her little crush on Alexis Reed began not long after she’d started styling her hair. This crush was nothing to worry about though because she knew Alexis could never reciprocate her feelings. At least that’s what she’d thought until Alexis walked into the open house last week. Something was different that day. Their harmless flirting took on a new meaning and now CeCe knew that Alexis was interested.

But why? CeCe was just a hairstylist who loved to make people feel good about themselves and had a good time doing it. From Alexis's words tonight, CeCe felt like Alexis could see inside her soul. When Alexis looked into her eyes it felt like she wanted to see all of CeCe and she was determined to see the part of CeCe that she didn’t let everyone see.

CeCe reached up and touched her cheek where not too long ago Alexis had laid her fingers. Her tender touch was a sweet caress and at the same time it felt like a sizzling flame spreading warmth through her body that culminated right between her legs.

CeCe inhaled deeply and slowly let her breath out. It had been so long since that kind of fire had burned inside her. But she had to be careful. She didn’t want to lose Alexis as a client and that was one rule she abided by: CeCe did not date clients.

But those lips. They were so close to kissing when Cat walked in the back room tonight. And now CeCe couldn’t get Alexis's lips out of her mind. She wanted to feel them pressed to hers and even more so she wanted to taste those sweet lips with her own.

She had until Friday to figure out what to do. Would it be so bad to kiss Alexis? Maybe that would end this crush and they could go back to their playful flirty ways.

CeCe rubbed her lips together and knew in her heart she couldn’t stop this kiss. It was inevitable. But it was just a kiss. Alexis Reed was a respected, in-demand doctor. There wasn’t a future there. This was just a little fun for both of them. And honestly, CeCe hadn’t had any fun like this in a very long time.

She went to bed that night already looking forward to Friday.

4

Alexis was at her desk entering notes from her last appointment when she heard a knock on her opened door. She looked up to see Michael Pierce, one of her fellow doctors in the clinic and a friend, standing there smiling.

“Hey, Michael. What’s up?”

“Do you have a minute?”

“Sure, let me finish this thought,” Alexis said, making a few more keystrokes. She leaned back in her chair and smiled. “Come on in.”

“I just wanted to invite you to our place Friday night. Lana wants to have a few of the doctors and their spouses over for drinks and snacks.”

“Oh, well, I don’t have a spouse,” Alexis began.

“You know what I mean,” Michael said, giving her a faux menacing look.

“I can’t. I have plans Friday night.”

Michael sat down in the chair across from Alexis's desk. “Oh, you do. Anyone I know?”

“No, but is it your business?” Alexis said, her tone playful.

“Yes,” Michael replied. “I’m your friend and if you’re seeing someone and Lana finds out, I’ll be in big trouble for not telling her first. You know she’s always looking to set you up.”

“Oh, I know!” Alexis nodded animatedly. “But I think I made her understand that it’s okay for me to be single.”

Michael laughed. “That doesn’t mean she likes it.”

“She almost made me angry the last time and I think she finally realized she needed to ease up.”

“Yeah, she just wants you to be happy and you know Lana. Her idea of happy and your idea of happy may be two different things. But she means well.”

“I know that. That’s why I said I almost got mad. If you must know, I’m meeting my hairstylist for happy hour. It’s her sister’s birthday.”

Michael gave her a steely look. “You like her,” he stated.

Alexis laughed. “Well, yeah. I do like her. She makes me look fabulous,” she said, fluffing her hair.